Dawson puts media scrum behind him

A cocky, cheeky chappy, Matt Dawson tends to leave his mark, whether it be an outrageous overhead dummy before scoring, or the penning of a column which reflects disaffection within the squad and opens up an almighty can of worms. One senses he's desperately keen for his abiding contribution to be left on the pitch rather than off it.

Thus far though, even allowing for his match-winning conversion against the ACT Brumbies, Dawson's most notable contribution has been that column which criticised the Lions' management for overdosing on the training, generating a boring tour and alienating the midweek dirt-trackers.

Austin Healey (to a slight degree), Dan Luger and Malcolm O'Kelly have since given sustenance to Dawson's comments that the tourists were over-trained. Ditto the decision by Wasps to take legal action against the Lions after Lawrence Dallaglio aggravated a knee injury which is liable to sideline him for nine months.

Dawson undoubtedly touched a nerve. Some players privately agree with him, but others in the Test line-up take a dimmer view of such whingeing, whether in private or public.

For his part, Dawson has since gone to the management with his tail between his legs, accepted his in-house punishment and made a grovelling public apology, albeit through another column in the Daily Telegraph, in which he stated how much he liked to be liked and how important it was to him to be part of the "group".

Dawson was one of 11 starters from the Test team who did not turn up for the Lions' supposed open media day on Wednesday. Still, of his own volition he faced the travelling media yesterday, and it was no bother to him. A half an hour late (nothing new there) but apologised (virtually a first of its kind), then fielded the questions thoughtfully after addressing the inquisitors he knew by their first names.

After the preliminary sparring, Dawson was asked about that column and its fall-out, and predictably he gave it the sternest of straight bats. "I was wrong to put that piece in at that time but this is not the time to bring it up again."

A further attempt was met with an assertion that he only wanted to talk about this weekend's game, but when the word "loyalty" was mentioned he immediately bristled. "I don't think my loyalty to the British Lions (sic) has ever been called into question. Playing for the Lions is the pinnacle of my career and playing in this third Test is a fantastic challenge for me."

The whole episode may have embarrassed him, but it certainly hasn't dimmed his confidence judging by his opening remarks yesterday. "I'm very excited, as everybody is. I was disappointed not be involved in the initial Test line-up but I think with my last two performances in the midweek team I was always going to push (for) that slot," he declared.

Indeed, his state of mind is clearly such that he feels Rob Howley's broken ribs were incidental to Dawson's own call-up. "It was made known to me that it was going to be a close call before I got the chance through the injury to Rob (Howley). In the past I've raised my game regardless of how I've got the position."

In George Gregan, Dawson is coming up against the Wallabies' best performer over the 80 minutes last Saturday. Gregan is even more of a key man given the poor form of Stephen Larkham, who has been replaced by Elton Flatley. Last Saturday he rose to the challenge by firstly playing a clever kicking game for field position, then gradually bringing their continuity game into play. The Wallabies' official match stats revealed that Gregan made only one mistake in his 134 touches of the ball, which included 63 passes.

With a typically unfazed matter-of-factness Dawson agreed that the contest at outhalf would be critical. "Nine and 10 are a crucial part of the way both teams play and the decision-making will have to be spot-on. Last week George Gregan was a completely different player from the first Test."

It was only then that Dawson was informed of Larkham's injury and Flatley's inclusion. "Great, I'll have to forego my afternoon's sleep and go and watch a load of videos of Flatley now."

It will be the most challenging of games but could be the most rewarding, and the thought of them all playing together for the very last time en bloc will be a powerful psychological tool. "This is a motivational factor without doubt. We've been together for six or seven weeks and I've got no question that this will be spoken about over the next couple of days. It will be an emotional time because it is going to be the last time the 2001 British Lions (sic) will wear that jersey."

Recalling Ian McGeechan's famous observation that whenever two old Lions' team-mates meet the in the street 20 years or more on, just a glance can revive "an immediate affiliation", Dawson then cited such a meeting with Ieuan Evans this week. "There's an automatic look you give each other which takes you back to 1997 and all you achieved together."

Regardless of disharmony and disaffection within the camp, that old Lions-in-arms feeling is a helluva lot better if it involves a winning tour.